He said that while the Gautam Budh and Pokhara International Airports, which have large investments, have been without flights for a long time, provisions will be made in the Act so that the private sector can operate them if they want.
What you should know
Minister of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey has said that the Air Act is going to make arrangements to allow the private sector to operate the airports that are at a standstill in the country.
Gautam Budh and Pokhara International Airports with large investments have been without flights for a long time and the law will allow the private sector to operate if they want.
During the discussion on the sustainable operation of Gautam Budh International Airport held by Siddhartha Industry and Commerce Association at Bhairahawa in Rupandehi on Saturday, he said that instead of prohibition, the private sector should only be regulated. "I think openness should come because of the aviation policy," he said. We are positive about giving non-operational airports to the private sector.
However, before that, the reasons for non-operation of the airport will be studied, he said. He said that if Gautam Buddha, which was built near Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, is not operational, none of the airports in the country will operate. He advised the private sector to form a facilitation committee instead of fighting for the operation of the airport. "The struggle here will give strength to those who criticize why the airport was built in Bhairahawa," he said, "so you should also pay attention to positive marketing." He said that the operation of the international airport is not only under the Ministry of Tourism. He said that since the ministries of tourism, finance, foreign affairs, home affairs, and labor have equal roles for the operation of the airport, it is not possible to fly the ship with a single effort.
He emphasized that the relevant ministries should make joint efforts for that. Minister Pandey said that during the upcoming visit of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to India, the agenda to be presented to India on behalf of the ministry includes the issue of route permission for international flights, the end of India's negative feelings towards Bhairahawa and Pokhara International Airports and initiatives for regional flights.
Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan, head of Siddharthnagar municipality, said that the airport could not be operated due to government apathy. He said that there should be coordination between the local, state and federal governments for the operation of the airport.
'The airport cannot be operated only by the failure of one government,' he said, 'Governments at all three levels should work together to run the airport by positively branding Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautama Buddha.' He said that flights will be operated if international airline companies can get business by spreading propaganda in Buddhist countries.
General Manager of Gautam Budh International Airport, Pratap Bavu Tiwari, said that there is a difficulty in operating the airport until the facilities needed by passengers for international flights are provided locally. "Why do passengers come here when they have to go to Kathmandu for labor, visa, medical and manpower", he said, "these problems should be solved first." He insisted on regular flights even though Nepal Airlines for the time being. He emphasized that there should be domestic flights from Bhairahawa to Nepalganj, Dhangadhi and other places. Connectivity should be increased. During the Prime Minister's visit, we should talk to India and solve the problem of ILS and air route', he said. He said that the government should make it clear. "We should not be kept in despair all the time", he said, "If it can't be run, it will happen if we can't."
"We have asked to run the empty airport by overshadowing all our issues, but the government does not pay attention to the regular operation", he said, "How long should we pressurize like this." Rajesh Kumar Agarwal, a central member of the Federation of Nepal Industry and Trade, said that due to the non-operation of the airport, problems are increasing in every sector. "Those who invested in real estate are drowned, those who invested in hotels are bankrupt", he said. There should not be any delay in this.
Lumbini Province Vice President of Nepal Industry and Commerce Federation Kul Prasad Neupane said that the airport operation has been overwhelmed due to lack of government's will to work. "Now when the Congress-UML government is in this situation, what can be expected from others", he said, "I think even the syndicated businessmen in Kathmandu have not allowed the airport to operate." He always urged the private sector not to get involved in the struggle. Thakur Kumar Shrestha, the outgoing president of the association, complained that even though it was said that it was not running because of a weak government, even a strong government could not run the airport.
He said that if the government cannot, it should be operated by a private company. He said that running the airport should not only concern the private sector here, but everyone should be interested. 'This is a matter of interest in western Nepal', he said, 'If this airport is operational, people will not have to go to Kathmandu at great expense from Narayangarh.' Bishnu Prasad Sharma, former president of
association and tourism businessman, said that the lack of coordination between the three levels of government is also causing difficulty in operating the airport. "Even if only Uttar Pradesh flights were operated from here, the people of the state would get facilities", he said, "there is no initiative of the government at all three levels." He said that it is the weakness of the government and the Civil Aviation Authority that airline companies are not trying to come here. "The main purpose of building this airport is to bring Buddhist tourists, but why are we not taking initiatives for direct flights to countries like Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam", he said.
He said that billions of dollars were invested from the private sector targeting the airport, but when it did not come into operation, hotels and other businesses were auctioned by banks. "Businesses worth 4 to 25 million rupees are in the auction of all the banks," he said, "8 hotel banks have completed the auction."
